9 Discounts Havre Drivers Overlook when Buying Auto Insurance on the Web

No one in their right mind likes paying for auto insurance, especially when the cost is way too high. There are many auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to find the best rates.

Save money by taking advantage of these nine discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially compared to bad drivers.
• Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
• Safety Course Discount – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
• Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy qualifies for this discount.
• Resident Student – Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
• Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

For a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Montana, click here to view.

Quick Havre Auto Insurance Quotes

Finding a lower price on insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. All you need to do is invest a few minutes to compare quotes provided by online insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

1. The easiest and least time consuming way to find low rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. One form submission gets you price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
2. Another way to obtain and compare quotes online requires visiting the website of each company and complete a new quote form. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare Auto-Owners, Safeco and Farmers. You would have to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

   For a list of links to insurance companies in Havre, click here.

3. The least efficient method to compare rates is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you have a need for the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, get the lowest quotes online but buy from a local insurance agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

However you get your quotes, double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage information for every company. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Havre.

When might I need help?

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
• When would I need rental car insurance?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
• Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
• Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Montana?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

A small number of people just want to talk to a local agent. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.

Once you complete this short form, the quote information is sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address.

Deciding on a company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• How are claims handled?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?

To select a specific agent in Havre, visit this link.

Once you have positive responses for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located an provider that is a good match to service your policy. But remember, policyholders can cancel a policy at any point so don’t think you are locked into a specific agent for the entire policy term.

Coverages available on your policy

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from getting keyed, fire damage and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverage

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things such as hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a building. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical expense insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills such as rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits, EMT expenses, prosthetic devices and chiropractic care. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto liability

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 which means $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical services, repair costs for stationary objects, medical expenses and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Montana requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many Montana drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/10 in Montana), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

In the end, you save

We just showed you a lot of techniques to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with the least-expected company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

Low-cost auto insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Havre agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

For more Montana car insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Montana drivers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, view a list of available companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.